WHEN a precocious nine-year-old first turned up for cricket training at St Helen's, Stuart Owen thought there was something that stood him apart from the rest.

Little did he know that Robert Damien Bale Croft would play 21 Tests and 50 one-day internationals for England and turn into one of the greats of Glamorgan cricket.

Croft this week gave his first cricket coach an unexpected thank-you by nominating him for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero award — an honour to mark the tireless work of volunteers across Wales's sporting community.

Work commitments have since forced Owen to finish his coaching duties with Swansea Cricket Club, although he never forgets the day a young all-rounder from Hendy pitched up in his whites.

"To be honest, I thought he might have been a better batsman," smiled Owen, who now runs his own planning consultancy business.

"Robert turned up full of West Wales bounce and vigour and he also had something that set him apart in terms of ability.

"When Robert told me he was nominating me for this award I felt a bit of a fraud because coaching has given me so much pleasure and enjoyment down the years and to see people like him, Tony Cottey and David Hemp achieve what they have in the game has been fantastic."

As for Croft, who has just completed his 21st first-class season for Glamorgan, he has been keen to champion the work of the unheralded coaches and volunteers up and down the land.

"These people help keep the communities together, the coaches, the people who go out and mark the pitch, the people who open up the club. Without these people, clubs would fall apart.

"Every club will have someone they can identify with who puts the hours in behind the scenes to keep the club going.

"Stuart used to put a huge amount of commitment into developing young cricketers and when I think of the enormity of the personal sacrifice he made to help youngsters in the game — not for monetary reward but because he believed so much in what he was doing — I owe him a great debt of gratitude.

"He was a firm but fair coach, showed no favouritism, demanded that you played to your full potential at all times, expected you to play hard but within the spirit of the game and above all enjoy taking part.

"I owe Stuart a lot and I am sure every professional sportsman has someone similar to thank for helping them reach where they have in their sport."

Nominations for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award can be made at bbc.co.uk/wales. The closing date for nominations is Friday, October 30. The winner will be announced during the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2009 awards to be held in early December.